Couch



Jan. 10, 1939.. H. A. WUEST COUCH Filed April 5, 1937 2 Sheets--SheekI 1INVENTOR HERBERTWUEST v A ORNEY. l

Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE COUCH ration of OhioApplication April 5, 1937, Serial No. 134,948

Claims.

This invention relates to couches of the character generally referred toas studio couches. The invention is concerned with means for extendingone portion of the device relative to another por- 5 tion thereofwhereby a double bed may be provided.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficientarrangement of parts for providing an extensible arrangement of bedforming parts of such a device.

Another object is to provide an arrangement of parts that will permitready separation of the relatively extensible parts whereby to provide,if desired, a plurality of separate bed portions, in

the nature of twin beds.

Another object of the invention is to obviate certain objectionablefeatures present in prior art devices of the character referred to assofas, and wherein there are likewise relatively movable parts forproviding an extended'bed.

Another object is to provide an arrangement of parts for accomplishingthe indicated purposes, wherein a simple and effective operating meansor mechanism is provided for extending and retracting relatively movableparts of the device.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein anddisclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation showing diagrammatically the relationship ofparts of a device embodying the invention, the relatively movable bedmembers being slightly extended.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of parts shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a modified form of device, showing the parts insubstantially the same relationship as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a View of the same general character of Fig. 2 and showingmodifications that may be incorporated in a device embodying theinvention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig, '7 is an enlarged detail view of one of the parts shown in Fig. 3and forming a detail of the invention.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged diagrammatic View showing details of theinvention.

Fig. 9 is a view, somewhat similar to Fig. 1, and showing a modicationof the invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing parts of u the device shown inFig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental plan view of parts shown in Fig. 9, therelatively movable bed sections being extended.

Fig. 12 is a fragmental detail view showing a pillow support formingpart of the back rest, and 5 all of which form part of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a View showing parts shown in Fig. 12, in a differentposition.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional View on line M-M of Fig. 12. 10

The device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a stationary frame 2li providedwith suitable supporting legs or standards 2|. Preferably, the frame 20is a relatively stationary member. The frame 20 may comprise an ordinaryrectangular frame of 15 approximately the width and length necessary toprovide a comfortable bed and is provided with a suitable wire fabric 22for providing the equivalent of an ordinary bed spring. The frame 20 maycomprise the lateral members 23 and end 20 members 2li, and whichmembers are preferably made of angle iron form. The wire fabric 22 isconnected to the members 23 and 24 by suitable springs 25. It isintended that when the stationary frame 29 is being used as a bed,suitable bed- 25 ding or cushions will be disposed over the springsupporting structure provided intermediate the members 23 and 24.

A movable section 26 is tractionally supported by mounting suitablecasters |21 at the corners thereof. The movable member 26 referred to asthe seat portion of the studio couch, is hollow to such extent as willpermit the same to be moved back and forth for enclosing and exposingthe stationary member 2U of the device. Suitable 35 guide means may beprovided, if necessary or desirable, for assuring free and easy relativemovement of the parts 20 and 2li for the indicated purpose.

As shown in Fig. 1, a means for effecting rela- 40 tive movement of theparts 2D and 26, comprises the back forming member or rail 21 and end orarm rest forming members or rails 28. The members 2'! and 28 arepivotally or hingedly connected together at 2E! and each of the members2l and 28 has a hinged or pivotal mounting upon one or the other of therelatively movable members 20 and 26. As shown, the member 2l, whichpreferably is tubular, is of generally inverted U-shaped form and hasthe free ends of the arms 3D thereof pivotally connected to the ends 24of the stationary member 2|] as shown at 3|. The connection of the backrest or support member 2l is preferably such that the hinged connectionwill permit separation of the member 21 from the member 2B whereby tomake possible the moving of the bed members to positions independent ofone another, thereby permitting use of the two bed forming parts of thedevice as twin beds. rIhe arm rest member 28 of which one is provided ateach side of the device, has a pivotal mounting or connection 32 withthe seat member 26 adjacent the forward end thereof. The various pivotalmountings are so positioned, in view of the shapes and lengths of thevarious parts of the device, that by moving the back rest member 2l,shown in Fig. 1, in a counter-clockwise direction, the said portion 26is moved outwardly or projected laterally beyond the stationary member26. By-reversing the direction of movement of the member 2l, the movableseat member 26 is moved backk to position enclosing the stationarymember 26. The connection at 29 may be effected by means of an anglebracket i253 bolted as at |28 to the arm 30, Fig. 5.

Ordinarily cushions are placed upon the seat member 26 and similarpillows are set on end and rest against the cushions on the member 26and against the back support 2l. In order to provide adequate-supportfor the pillows, intermediate the arms 36 of the back rest 2l as Well asbeneath the base portion 33 thereof, a strap 35i is provided between thearm members 36. Preferably, the strap member comprises two sections, oneeach of which is attached to one of the arms 3l), and the centermostportions of such straps are connected by a spring 35. The spring 35 issuinciently tensioned to withstand the normal pressure directed upon thestraps and the spring incident to persons seated upon the member 26,leaning against the pillows standing on end and supported by the backrest members. The strap members 35 are so connected to the arm members36 that when the back rest is moved to horizontal position, as shown inFig. 2, the straps 3d will lie immediately over or upon the stationaryframe 26, thus serving to provide a support for the back rest member 2.

The means provided for detachable connection of the back rest member 2Tto the stationary member 20 may be varied as desired. As shown in Fig.2, such means comprises hinge pin 3| carried vby an arm such as -36 andhavingrits inner end received in a suitable opening or slot 36 providedeither in the frame 20 or in one of the support legs 2l thereof. If theslot or opening 26 is provided in the stationary member 2l), suchopening may be suiciently high to permit the back rest to assume theposition shown in Fig. 2 inoident to the normal turning down actionthereoi". In instances, however, where it might be desired to have thehinge connection 3l provided between the back rest 2l and a leg such as2l, itis desirable to elongate the slot or opening as shown at 316 sothat the hinge pin 3l may be elevated incident to the turning downmovement of the member 2l and whereby the frame 2l may Y. assume asubstantially horizontal position with the straps 34 in `substantiallythe position shown in Fig. 2. In the horizontal position of the frame2l, it may rest upon suitable blocks or stops such as 5l, secured tomember 23, Fig. 2.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the back rest iii which to allpurposes and intents functions as does the back rest 21, carries thewire fabric il as distinguished from having such fabric carried by thestationary member l2 and which stationary frame member 42 otherwisecorresponds with the stationary member 26 shown in Fig- 1. In this formof device the stationary frame member l2 may be in the nature of ahollow boX in which suitable bedding may be stored and the wire fabricil carried by the back rest serves as a closure for the open top of thebox formed in and by means of the stationary member d2. Similarreference characters are applied to those parts of Fig. 4 thatcorrespond to similarly marked parts of Figs. i and 2.

Where the wire fabric il is carried by the back member liu, it isdesirable to provide a lateral member e3 between the free ends of thearms i4 thereof, whereby to provide suitable anchorage means for thesprings 25 and the wire fabric il Also, in this form of device, it maybe desirable to so arrange the pivot 3l that the back rest 4l assumes aposition upon or is supported by the stationary member i2 asdistinguished from the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 wherein the back rest2l' clears the stationary member 2Q.

In Fig. 3 there is provided a stationary fra-me 366 corresponding to thestationary frame member 20 of Fig. l, and a back member or support 3l'corresponding to member 2'! shown in Fig. 1. In lieu of a tubular armrest such as is shown at 28 in Fig. 1 lthere is provided a closed armrail or end member 38 which is secured to and forms part of the bedforming portion of the movable section of the device and correspondingto that part of Fig. l indicated as 26. The end members 38 are in thenature of a. headboard and a footboard when the device is being used asa bed, and at other times they serve as arm supports. The device shownin Fig, 3 is provided with a linked connection which functions as doesthe arm rest 28 of Fig. 1. The indicated link connection comprises aninverted L-shaped link SIB having a pivotal mounting at 326 upon theback rest 31 and having a sliding pivotal mounting 3M) upon a slottedbracket 355i carried by the end or arm member 33. A similar link andbracket arrangement Sliland 356 is provided at each end of the device.The member 350 is preferably in the form of an angle iron having one ofits legs attached to the member 38 and the other end eX- tending atright angle and having formed therein a suitable elongated slot 360 inwhich the hinge pin 3136 may slidably engage. The arrangement of partsis such that as the back member 3'! is moved in counter-clockwisedirection (see Fig. 3) the link 3m so cooperates, by reason of itspivotal and sliding connections to the member 3l and the bracket 356,that substantially the same relative movement is eiected between` thestationary frame 30 and the movable seat portion 35, as is attained bycorresponding parts shown in Fig. 1. If desired, a suitable upright 39,which may be ornamental as Well as utilitarian, may be provided forsupporting the upper portion of the bracket 356 and for substantiallyenclosing and concealing the various operating parts disposed between itand the back member 31. It is to be understood that in the form ofdevice shown in Fig. 3, the stationary member may either carry the wirefabric as does the frame 26 shown in Fig. 2 or the member 36! may be ofthe hollow box variety shown in Fig. 4 and the wire fabric may becarried by the back member 3?.

Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive show generally a structure of the generalcharacter shown in Fig. 3 in that the movable member is provided withrelatively stationary arm rest members but wherein a means other thanthat shown in Fig. 3 is employed for effecting relative movement of themovable and stationary seat and bed forming members. In the form ofdevice shown in Fig. 9, there is used generally the link arrangementshown in Fig. 1, suitable changes being made in the proportioning andattachment of parts whereby to attain substantially the same results.

In Fig. 9 the stationary frame is shown at 9B and the movable seatportion is at 9S. The arm rest portion is shown at E38 and the back restis shown at 9?. A link 9i has pivotal mounting at 92 upon the backsupport 9i and has its other end pivotally connected at 93 to the member95 whereby upon turning down the member ST, the tractionally supportedymember Sii is projected in the same manner as similar members areprojected in the other forms of the invention. The end or arm restmember S8 may be provided with a suitable opening or slot 94 into whichthe lower end of the link 9i extends. It is to be understood. that thestationary member 90 may be oi" the form shown in either of Figs. 2 or 4and that the wire fabric may either be attached to the stationary member9!! or to the movable back support member 9?, suitable modication beingmade to accommodate either of those forms.

In Figs. l2 and i3 there is shown the back member such as 2l inassociation with a movable pillow supporting member 21 which performssubstantially the same function as is performed by the straps tdi andspring 35 shown in Fig. 2. In order that the pillow supporting mem.- ber2li? may be moved out of possible contact with a stationary member suchas 2E), the member 2l@ may be hinged at its opposite ends to the arms(tu of the member 2 so that by reason of such pivotal connection and thecrank formation indicated generally at 2li, the member lu may assume theposition shown in Fig. 13, and thus obviate interference thereof withany of the stationary members with which the structure might beemployed. A suitable stop member 2l2 may be provided for retaining themember 2l@ in position against the pressure of the weight of any personresting against any of the pillows standing on edge and supported by theback member 2l and the member 210.

Ordinarily, a large cushion would be placed upon the movable member 2liand a number of pillows would be standing on edge and resting againstthe member 2l as previously explained. If a device is to be used as adouble bed, the pillows standing on edge would be removed and the backmember 2l would be moved to horizontal position, thus projecting themovable member to a position at one side of the stationary member. Theremoved cushion would then be placed over the stationary member 2u andserve as mattress upon which suitable bedding would then be arranged. Ifit should be desired to use the device as a set of twin beds, the arms3D of the back member El may be sprung apart sufriciently to permitwithdrawal of the hinge pins Eil irom the sockets or slots 35 and 3lwhereupon the movable portion oi the device may be moved to any desiredportion of a room without disturbing the stationary portion 20 of thedevice. In order to return the parts to normal or closed position, theforegoing procedure is reversed.

In those forms of the invention embodying the attachment oi the wirefabric to the back rest member, the back rest is preferably notdetachable from the stationary member 42, and a detachable hingedconnection is provided 'between the arm rest members 23 and the backrest member 45). This may be readily accomplished either at the place ofconnection of the arm rests upon the back rest; viz., at 44B, or at 45D,where the arm rest is pivotally connected to the movable member dil.Such detachable connections may be similar to that shown at :M -36, orany other suitable arrangement may be employed. Any equivalentarrangement of parts that will permit teleseoping of the members 2G and2S may be used.

The link 3l@ provides a simple arrangement for a detachable connectionof the character referred to in the preceding paragraph. 'I'he link 3H)is provided with a slot or pocket 324 adapted to receive a pin 32!carried by back rest 31. A latch 322, carried by link 3H! has a pocket323 adapted to also receive pin 32! and thus pivotally lock the link andback rest together. The particular form of link 3H), shown herein, isdesigned to avoid Contact of the back rest member upon the cushion onthe movable member, incident to turning down the back rest member forextending the device.

In some forms of the invention, it may be desired to provide a box andwire fabric arrangement as disclosed in Fig. 4, and wherein the wirefabric is separate from the back rest member 4l). Under suchcircumstances, a separate frame for the wire fabric may be hingedlycarried b-y the box formed by the stationary member 42. The Aform ofpillow support shown at 219 is preferably used whereby to permit readyaccess to the interior of the box without necessarily detaching thetractionally supported member o1' the back rest member.

The oiset structure of the straps 355, shown in Fig. 6, is providedessentially to permit the back rest member to assume a horizontalposition in the extended condition of the relatively movable bed membersor portions.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a stationaryframe, a spring structure on the frame providing a bed, a b-ack restmember having a transverse rail and extending legs hinged to the frameat the ends of the frame and adjacent one side thereof, a movable memberadapted for use as a bed and as a seat or couch member, the movablemember being open at one side and hollow to an extent suicient for it totelescope the stationary member, link means connecting the opposite endsof the movable member with the legs of the back rest, and a U-shapedsupport carried by the back rest for cooperation with the back rest forsupporting a pillow resting on edge on the movable member when themovable member is telescoped over the stationary frame said supportincluding a part spanning the back rest member, and opposed off-set endspivoted upon the back rest legs for guiding the spanning part from aposition closely along and in substantial parallelism with thetransverse back rest rail, to a position relatively distant from saidrail.

2. In a convertible couch, the combination of a stationary frame havingopposite ends and front and rear sides, a movable eXtendible frameadapted for use as a bed and as a seat, the movable frame being open atone side and hollow to an extent suicient for it to telescope thestationary frame, a back rest in the form of a U-piece having atransverse upper rail and a leg extending from each end of the rail,said legs each having a free end, means pivoting the free ends of thelegs to the stationary frame adjacent to the rea-r side thereof, forguiding the rail of the back rest to a -position along the front of thestationary frame in the extended position of the movable frame, and acrank-shaped pillow support having a back rest span and opposite endseccentrically related thereto, the ends being pivoted to the legs of theback rest and spaced from the back rest rail, for rotation of the pillowsupport span from a position closely along the back rest rail to aposition relatively distant from said rail.

3. In a convertible couch, the combination of a stationary frame havingopposite ends and front and rear sides, a movable extendible frameadapted for use as a bed and as a seat, the movable frame being open atone side and hollow to an extent suicient for it to telescope thestationary frame, a back restv in the form of a U- piece having atransverse upper rail and a leg extending from each end of the rail,said legs each having a free end, means pivoting the free ends ofthelegs to the stationary frame adjacent to the rear side thereof, forguiding the rail of the back rest to a position along the front of thestationary frame in the extended position of the movable frame, linkmeans connecting the back rest to the-movable frame for automaticallyextending said frame forwardly of the stationary frame upon rotation ofthe back rest about its pivot means to the said position along the frontof the stationary frame, and a crank-shaped pillow support having a backrest span and opposite ends eccentrically related thereto, the endsbeing pivoted to the legs of the back rest and spaced from the back restrail, for rotation of thepillow support span from a position closelyalong the back rest rail to a position relatively distant from saidrail.

4. In a couch, the combination of a stationary frame having oppositeends and front and rear sides, a back rest in the form of a U-pieeehaving a transverse upper rail and a leg extending from each end of therail, said legs each having a free end, means pivoting the free ends ofthe legs to the stationary frame at opposite ends thereof to guide therail of the back rest toward and from a position in substantial spacedparallelism with and alongside of the front side of the stationaryframe, a support carried by the back rest for supporting a pillow, saidsupport including a part spanning the back rest, and off-set endseccentrically related to the spanning part, and means pivoting saidoff-set ends to the legs of the U- piece at a location spaced from therail a distance corresponding to the amount of the ofi-set of said ends,rotation of the pillow support about its pivots thereby serving todispose the spanning part selectively closely along the transverse rail,or at a position relatively Adistant therefrom.

5. In a couch, the combination of a stationary frame having oppositeends and a front and rear sides, a back rest in the form of a U-piecehaving a transverse upper rail and a leg extending from each end of therail, said legs each having a free end, means pivoting the free ends ofthe legs to the stationary frame at opposite ends thereof to guide therail of the back rest toward and from a position in substantialparallelism with and alongside of the front side of the stationaryframe, a support carried by the back rest for supporting a pillow, saidsupport including a part spanning the back rest, and off-set endseccentrically related to the spanning part, and means pivoting saidofi-set ends to the legs of the U- piece at a location spaced from therail a distance corresponding to the amount of the oi-set of said ends,rotation of the pillow support about its pivots thereby serving todispose the spanning part selectively closely along the transverse rail,or at a position relatively distant therefrom, and a stop on the backrest for limiting the rotation of the support in one direction about itsoff-set pivoted ends.

HERBERT A. WUEST.

